Cold Cases: 1980-1989

The cold cases below are for crimes that occured from 1980-1989. Click on any photo to see the larger version.

Case # 287625-J

Victim: Maria Luisa Kortekaas, W/F/ 70

Occurred: On Tuesday, May 30, 1989, the victim, was discovered deceased inside her apartment located at 8860 SW 123 Court Miami, Florida.

Narrative: The victim who lived alone was last seen alive at approximately 2:30 p.m., May 30, 1989, when she cashed a check at Amerifirst Bank inside Dadeland Mall.

Case # 230208-J

Victim: Lani Agoo, W/F/35

Occurred: The victim was discovered deceased on May 9, 1989, at 2:30 p.m., in a wooded field at SW 236 Street and 104 Avenue.

Narrative: The victim was last seen alive on March 17, 1989, when she was transported to the area of Perrine by her ex-boyfriend, in order to purchase Jamaican beef patties and cigarettes. According to friends of the victim, she was known to abuse cocaine and would wander off in search of cocaine from her residence located at 10900 S.W. 196 Street apartment # 106N.

Occurred: The victim was discovered deceased on April 22, 1989, in a field at SW 312 Street and SW 202 Avenue, Miami, Florida

Narrative: Witnesses heard gunshots then shortly after hearing the shots observed a vehicle leaving the area. The vehicle was described as a mid-seventies to late-seventies General Motors, smaller model vehicle, which was either a rust color or had red primer spots. Shortly after the vehicle left the area the victim's body was discovered deceased in the aforementioned field.

Narrative: At the above time, date, and location the victim was discovered deceased inside of his yellow 2-door, 1977 Honda Civic which was discovered crashed in a wooded area of the median. It was originally believed the victim died from injuries sustained in the auto crash; however, it became apparent the victim was shot while driving southbound on Crandon Boulevard and crashed into the wooded area of the median as a result of being shot. The victim was employed by the Key Biscayne Tennis Association as a tennis professional who provided tennis lessons.

Case # 203225-I

Victim: Eugene Bell, B/M/41, aka "Yellow"

Occurred: The victim was discovered deceased on Sunday, April 24, 1988, on the side of the road at S.W. 51 Street and 122 Avenue.

Narrative: On Sunday, April 24, 1988 at 4:30 p.m., the victim was discovered deceased inside of a box which was placed on the side of the road. The victim was from Chicago, Illinois and was involved in criminal activity which included narcotics trafficking.

Prior to the victim's body being discovered a witness reported seeing a black pick-up truck, possibly a Chevrolet 1987, with duel wheels, open bed, with a King Cab, drive in the area where the victim was discovered. The truck was driven by a Latin male, 30 to 40 years of age.

Case # 32187-I

Victim: Paula Pouza, B/Latin/F/30

Occurred: 10875 S.W. 216 Street, Miami, Florida

Narrative: On January 19, 1988, at 7:39 p.m., uniform units from the Miami-Dade Police Department were summoned to the Cutler Manor Apartments, Apt. #601 in reference to a woman screaming. The responding officers found the victim deceased inside of apartment #601.

Occurred: The victim was discovered deceased on January 5, 1988, at the Marco Polo Hotel 19201 Collins Avenue, Miami, Florida.

Narrative: An arrest was made in regards to this homicide however; the victim was never officially identified. The subject offered the name of the victim as Robert or Bob Copeland.

Case # 177735-H

Victim: Nancy Godbey, W/F/42

Occurred: The victim was discovered deceased on April 18, 1987, inside her residence at 8317-C S.W. 107 Avenue at approximately 10:15 a.m.

Narrative: The victim worked at Porky's Pit Bar-B-Que, in the Dadeland Mall area and had recently moved to the Miami area from Naples, Florida. She was discovered deceased inside of her residence by co-workers who were checking on her welfare after she didn't show up for work.

Narrative: At the above time, date, and location, the victim was walking home through the above parking lot after completing her shift at the LaFesta Restaurant, located at 1524 - 79th Street Causeway. Witnesses in a nearby apartment building reported hearing a single gunshot and the victim screaming for help. Witnesses immediately began to assist the victim who was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital where she was pronounced deceased upon arrival.

One witness advised of seeing a small light colored or white vehicle with a "square" rear end, similar to a Volkswagen Jetta or Rabbit in the area immediately after the shot was heard.

Narrative: The victim and his wife owned a grocery store which was located at 10130 N.W. 27 Avenue Miami, FL. As the victim and his wife arrived home from work in separate vehicles, a black male came up from behind the victim and a struggle ensued. The victim's wife went to assist the victim and was able to pull the subject away from the victim. The subject then shot the victim and ran toward a waiting vehicle which was described as a large, dull red vehicle. The subject was able to take a briefcase and satchel from the victim which contained money from the store registers.

Narrative: At the above time, date, and location the victim was shot after a verbal argument with suspect # 2 below. The original argument occurred in the parking lot of the Las Villas Shopping Center outside of the Don Juan Restaurant located at 4897 N.W. 183 Street. The suspects are brothers and of Dominican descent who were known to frequent the Don Juan Restaurant almost daily.

While driving to another bar the suspects observed the victim in the parking lot of N.W. 199 Street & 47 Avenue. The suspects approached the victim and shot him causing his demise.

Occurred: May 1, 1986, inside an office trailer at 10900 N.W. South River Drive, Medley, Florida

Narrative: The victim worked and was a part owner of H & R Hoist and Rental Company located at 10900 N.W. South River Drive Medley, Florida. The victim was discovered deceased from a gunshot wound at approximately 5:40 p.m. The motive is unknown as to why the victim was killed; however, there was a large amount of money missing from the office.

Case # 24263-G

Victim: Joyce Burrows, B/F/26

Occurred: The victim was discovered deceased on Friday, January 17, 1986, in a vacant lot located at NW 22 Ave & 59 Street.

Narrative: On Friday, January 17, 1986, the deceased body of Joyce Burrows was discovered in a vacant lot. The victim suffered from blunt trauma and it appeared she had been sexually assaulted.

The victim was known to "freebase" cocaine and was a prostitute who frequented the area of NW 22 Avenue from NW 54 Street to NW 69 Street

Update: During a review of old open homicides the evidence in this case was re-submitted for DNA analysis. On January 12, 2013, the DNA standards of a subject were matched to evidence impounded from the original crime scene. On Friday, May 16, 2014, an arrest was made.

Narrative: The victim was discovered deceased inside of his residence on Monday, December 30, 1985, at approximately 12 P.M. by a neighbor. The investigation revealed the victim's beige 1984 Toyota pickup truck was missing from his residence. This vehicle was later recovered on Tuesday, December 31, 1985, at 2070 N.W. 7th Street Miami, Florida.

Case # 219068-F

Victim: Glenn Gibbs, W/M/28

Occurred: Thursday, June 6, 1985, at approximately 6:48 p.m., in the parking lot of the Circle K store located at 7150 S.W. 97 Avenue

Narrative: At the above time, date, and location the victim's vehicle exploded as the victim pulled into the parking lot of the Circle K store. The investigation revealed an explosive devise caused the explosion. It was further learned the victim was a member of a drug organization who had become a federal witness and was about to testify against other members of this organization.

Narrative: The victim was a known narcotics dealer/trafficker who was expecting a friend to visit him at his residence between the above times. The victim was discovered deceased by a neighbor in his driveway from apparent gunshot wounds.

Case # 291759-E

Victim: Diego L. Ramirez, W/Columbian/M/27

Occurred: Tuesday, August 7, 1984

Narrative: On Tuesday, August 7, 1984, the victim was discovered deceased from a gunshot wound in the parking lot of the apartment complex located at 11750 S.W. 18 Street.

Case # 218830-E

Victim: Sandra Jean Christian Ashe, W/F/40

Occurred: The victim was discovered deceased in a wooded area in the vicinity of S.W. 404 Street and 222 Avenue, rural South Dade County, on Thursday, June 14, 1984.

Narrative: The victim was last seen alive on Wednesday, June 13, 1984, at the Golden Lady Lounge, located at 645 English Avenue, Homestead, Florida at approximately 3 a.m. The victim left the bar with Joseph C. Blankenship, W/M30, and was not seen alive again. The victim's 1972, silver, two-door, Plymouth Satellite, FL registration VEM-930 was found in the parking lot of the Golden Lady Lounge on June 15, 1984.

Narrative: On Monday, February 13, 1984, the victim's body was discovered partially concealed by some bushes in the SE corner of the aforementioned residence. It is suspected that the victim was sexually assaulted and murdered in the backyard.

Case # 201261-D

Victim: Samuel Swan Jr., B/M/24

Occurred: Sunday, June 13, 1983, at 8:45 p.m., at 8100 North Miami Avenue

Narrative: On Sunday, June 13, 1983, at 8:45 p.m., at 8100 North Miami Avenue the Food Giant Store, three subjects entered the store in order to commit a robbery. The victim who was working at the store as a security guard was shot and killed during the robbery. The subjects fled in a small brown vehicle.

Narrative: The two victims were about to open the grocery store for the day. Victim Lopez was carrying a large amount of money in a brown bank bag. Witnesses observed two black males approach the victims and shoot them. The subjects took the money and fled south from the scene. A vehicle was heard leaving at a high rate of speed.

Narrative: The victim was a Correctional Officer for the State of Florida who was working an off-duty job as a plainclothes store detective for J. C. Penney. During the course of his shift the victim approached a suspected shoplifter who resisted arrest. During the physical altercation between the victim and the subject the victim was stabbed several times. The victim ultimately expired from his injuries.

The subject was described as a white male, 5'8" -5'9", 150 lbs, bushy blonde or brown hair, late to early twenties.

Narrative: The body of the victim was discovered after a foul odor was detected coming from the victim's apartment.

The investigation revealed the victim kept to herself; however, there were several men seen frequenting the victim's apartment from time to time. The victim’s apartment was very well kept and fashionable with no signs of ransacking. The motive for this homicide remains unknown.

Narrative: The investigation revealed the victim worked as a midnight gas station attendant at the above location. The victim was last seen alive at approximately 12:20 a.m., by the owner of the gas station. At approximately 2:10 a.m., uniform officers from the North Miami Beach Police Department entered the gas station and discovered a blood scene as well as an open and empty cash register. The victim was discovered on the exterior of the gas station beaten and unconscious. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where he ultimately expired from his injuries.

Anyone with information on any of our cold cases is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 or send an email to the Homicide Bureau.

The work of the Miami-Dade Police Department Homicide Bureau Cold Case Squad receives support from the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Solving Cold Cases with DNA Grant program.

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